Papermaking machine



Dec, 29, 1964 0. c. BEAULIEU ETAL PAPERMAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1959 id k hum Q kw V Ni N WW W Dec. 29, 1964 D. c. BEAULIEU ETAL I 3,

PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed 0st. 1, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 29, 1964 D. c. BEAULIEU ETAL 3,163,066

PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NW $26 :@W

Dec. 29, 1964 D. c. BEAULIEU ETAL 3,163,066

PAPERMAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 1, 1959 g re Dec. 29, 1964 D. c. BEAULIEU ETAL 3,163,066

PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,163,966 PAPERMAKTNG MACHINE Delton C. Beauiieu, Neenah, and Richard W. Martinek,

Appleton, Win, assignors to Kimherly-(Tiarlr Corporation, Neenah, Wis a corporation of Delaware Filed (let. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 843,661 6 (Ilaims. (Si. 839l) Our invention relates to the manufacture of cellulosic products and more particularly to paper cutting machines or sheeters.

Papermaking machines generally produce paper in roll form, but it is quite usually ultimately used in the form of individual sheets. Various paper cutting devices or sheeters for forming individual sheets from paper web have been proposed and customarily used in the past including a type that utilizes a knife mounted on a rotatable cylinder. The knife may be in the form of a partial spiral and operates with a scissors action against a ground bed knife. Another well known type of sheet cutter utilizes an upper and a lower rotatable cutting drum each equipped with a knife. The drums are synchronized by means of gearing, and the paper web is cut between the knives. Gearing may also be provided to synchronize the sheet travel with the drums at the moment of cutting.

In both types of machines, a number of sheets, such as 6 or 8, may be cut simultaneously, and the sheets are taken from a similar number of paper rolls simultaneously feeding between the cutters. So called guillotine cutting devices, utilizing a vertically movable slicing blade, may incidentally be utilized for squaring and rendering uniform the edges of piles of sheets made from these rotary cutters.

These rotary cutting devices have a number of disadvantages. The scissor type action of the knives produces paper dust which filters between the sheets as they are piled subsequent to cutting and which is very undesirable in subsequently printing the sheets. More particularly, the dust permeates into the printing plates and equipment necessitating frequent cleaning, and the dust has been found particularly obnoxious in connection with paper to be printed by the so called offset process. Furthermore, since the cutting action is limited to 6 or 8 sheets at a time using either of the above mentioned rotary cutting devices, the output from such devices is relatively limited.

t is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved machine and method for cutting paper sheets which do not produce the paper dust that is so objectionable in connection with subsequent printing and which produce output faster than previous cutting machines and methods. More particularly, it is an object to provide an improved cutting machine and method which utilize a guillotine type cutter effective on a slab of sheets of substantial thickness which have not been previously cut as by means of rotating knives, so that dust is excluded from between the sheets.

In a preferred form, a machine according to our invention utilizes a rotatable drum around which paper is wound until a substantial thickness is attained and a guillotine type knife for cutting through the paper to the drum and thereby providing a plurality of paper sheets looped about the drum which are subsequently spread out to form a pile. In another preferred form of the invention, a pair of drums are used, and the paper is wound around the drums before being severed to provide a slab of sheets.

The invention consists of the novel methods, constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will be apparent from the following description of preferred forms of the invention and methods for practicing the invention, illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a sheeter embodying the principles of the invention and including a rotatable drum driven by power mechanism and around which paper web is wound, a guillotine type cutter movable toward and away from the drum, and a paper web supply;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the sheeter with paper wound on the drum;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the sheeter on an enlarged scale with the guillotine cutter being active to cut paper on the drum;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the sheeter showing the cut paper being removed from the drum;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the sheeter showing the paper completely removed from the drum;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational'view of the guillotine type cutter;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the drum;

FIG. 8 is a side View shovw'ng the power mechanism for driving the drum;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the sheeter embodying the principles of the invention and including a pair of drums mounted with respect to a machine frame;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the frame on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of a modified form of paper web supply which may be used with either embodiment of sheeter.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, the paper sheet cutting machine or sheeter constituting the first embodiment of the invention may be seen to comprise, in general, a winding drum 19, a backstand 11 for a roll of paper, a conveyor 12, a guillotine type paper cutting mechanism 13 and a second guillotine type paper cutting mechanism 14.

The drum it) may comprise an outer shell 15 supported with respect to a central shaft 16 by means of a pair of external headers 1'7 and a plurality of internal support discs 13. The drum 1% is rotatably supported by means of a pair of stanchions 19 into which the ends of the shafts 16 are journaled.

The backstand 11 comprises an arbor 20 for carrying a roll of paper 21 and rotatably supported in a pair of stanchions 22.

The conveyer 12 comprises an endless belt 23 having its upper pass supported by a table 24 and disposed over a pair of pulleys 25 and 26 rotatably supported with respect to the table 24.

The cutting mechanism 13 comprises a knife blade 27 fixed in a knife holder 28 embracing the blade. The holder 28 is provided with a plurality of pins 29 setting in obliquely extending slots 3t! formed in casing portions 31 on opposite sides of the knife holder 28. A pair of hydraulically actuated pistons 32 slidably disposed in cylinders 33 are mechanically connected with the knife holder 28 for the purpose of moving the knife 27 and holder 28 toward the drum 10.

The drum it) is driven by any suitable driving mechanism, such as from a variable speed forward and reverse drive device 34 of any suitable type connected to the drum by means of a chain 35 in mesh with sprockets 36 and 37 respectively carried by the drive device 34 and the shaft 16.

An endless belt 38 extends around the drum lli. A plurality of pulleys 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 are provided for the belt, and as will be observed, the belt extends from the pulley 3h sequentially around the pulleys 40, d1, 42 and 43 and from thence around the outer shell 15 back to the pulley 39.

Paper is taken from the roll 21 in a web or continuous sheet 44, and a pulley 45 is provided around which the sheet is guided on to the shell 15 of the drum ill. A moisture varying device 46 is provided for the web 44 adjacent the roll 21'. The device 36 may be of any suitable type for increasing the moisture content of the web as it passes through the device 46 or for reducing the moisture content if desired. A paper inspection device 47 is provided adjacent the device 46, and this also may be of any conventional type for automatically indicating defects in the paper 44 as it passes through the device 4?. A pair of slitters 48 of conventional construction may be provided for the paper web 44 as it passes from the roll 21 to the drum it for longitudinally dividing the web i into a plurality of shorter width webs. A vacuum cleaning device 49 connected to a dust retaining bag 53 may be provided for the Web 44, as shown. A side register control 51 comprising a paddle 52 is preferably provided for maintaining the paper in a predetermined path around the pulley 45. The side register control 51 is of conventional construction, and the paddle 52 is in contact with the edge of the paper 44 between the roll 21 and the pulley 45 and is connected with suitable mechanism (not shown) for changing and correcting the path of the paper sheet 44 laterally when the web actuates the paddle 52 indicating that it is out of its normal path.

The paper cutting mechanism 14 may comprise a platen or platform 53 and a knife 27 movable toward the platen 53 to cut paper sheets therebetween. In other respects, the cutting mechanism 14 may be substantially identical with the cutting mechanism 13.

Paper, after it is cut by the mechanism 14, may be moved on to any suitable support, such as a skid 54, comprising a platform 55 supported by legs 56.

An auxiliary table 57 may be provided behind the paper cutting mechanism 14, and an endless belt 58 may be disposed over the table. The belt may be movably disposed on a pair of pulleys 59.

in operation, the paper web 44 is unwound from the roll 21 and is passed through the devices 46, 47, 48 and 49 and around the pulley 45 to be wound in a loop on the drum lit using the drum as a core and support for the paper web. The drum is rotated in the clockwise di rection as seen in FIG. 1 by the variable speed device 34, and the paper is wound on the drum 1i underneath the belt 38 until a substantial thicknes of paper exists on the drum as shown in FIG. 2. The drum lit, for example, may have a circumference of about 36 inches with a diameter slightly less than 12 inches or may be considerably larger, if desired, to have a diameter of 8 feet or more. It is contemplated that the paper web shall be wound on the drum it until the paper has a thickness of 6%. to 7 inches, for example. Using these dimensions, it will be observed that the drum preferably has a circumfcrence at least 5 times the thickness of the web wound on the drum.

After such a thickness of paper has been attained on the drum lltl, drum rotation is stopped and the cutting mechanism 13 is then rendered operative. Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the cylinders 33 so as to actuate the pistons 32 and move the knife 27 radially inwardly toward the outer shell of the drum it In such movement, the pins 29 fixed with respect to the knife holder 28' move in the oblique slots so as to give the knife 27 a slicing action. The knife 27 in so moving slices the paper web around the drum ill as illustrated in FlG.

' 3, lengthwise of the web loop around the drum, parallel with the drum axis and transversely of the paper web. In effect, there is now positioned across the drum a slab of many individual sheets of paper which have approximately the same length. The knife 27 is Withdrawn from iits cutting position, as by draining the cylinders 33 of fluid, and the sheets are now ready to be transferred on to the conveyor 12 and table 2 The drum 1% is now rotated slowly in the counterclockwise direction as seen in Fifi. 4 by the variable speed driving device 34-, and the paper sheets move downwardly as a slab A on to the table 24 and belt 23 to spread out the loop or slab of sheets. The belt 38 functions to hol the trailing edge of the slab A of sheets as it passes from the drum lit on to the table 24 as seen in PEG. 4 and thus prevents appreciable movement of the sheets with respect to each other at this time. The spacing between the cutting device 14 and the drum 1b is such that the device 14 may be used for cutting relatively short width sheets B while the trailing edges of the sheets are still retained on the rum iii. The narrow width sheets B on the table 5d may then be slid on to the skid 54. Alternately, the cutting device 1 may be spaced farther from the drum ll? and used to trim the edges of the sheet collection A when it is fully on the table 24 to assure that the edges are square and uniform. The skid 5 in this case may be sufficiently large to take the full width of the sheet slab A.

The belt 23: may be driven about its pulleys Z5 and 25 simply by the movement of the sheet collection A on to the table 24, or if desired, the pulleys 25 and 26 and belt 23 may be power driven. Alternately, the table 24 may be used without the conveyor l2, and in this case the paper sheets are simply slid across the table to the cutting device 14.

The alternate embodiment of shecter shown in FIG. 9 comprises a second drum 6th in addition to the drum lit The drum i in this case is rotatably disposed in a machine frame l, and the drum 68 is likewise rotatably disposed in the frame til. The drum 60 is provided with a central shaft or axle 62 extending through slots 63 in opposite sides of the frame at, so that the drum 6t) may be adjustably moved toward or away from the drum it The shaft (:2 and thereby the drum 6% are fixed from movement with respect to the slot 63, after having been suitably adjusted in position with respect to the drum 1%, by nuts 6 threaded on the shaft 62.

A platen 65 fixed with respect to the machine frame 6 is provided beneath the knife 27. A belt 33a is provided in this embodiment corresponding to the belt 33 but of greater length, and it extends around the pulleys 35 4h, 41, and 42.. The pulleys 4t) and ll in this case are adjustably mounted with respect to the frame 61, having central shafts or axles 66 slidably disposed in slots 67 in the frame 61. The axles 66 are adjustably fixed at proper positions in the slots by means of nuts 68 threaded on the axles. The pulleys 4t) and 41 are adjusted along with the drum A second belt 69 is provided around the drums lit and till. The belt 6) extends around the two drums and also around pulleys 7t '71 and 72. The pulleys 7t? and '72 are rotatable and axially fixed within the machine frame 61 and the pulley 71 is adjustable vertically. The pulley 71 includes a central axle or shaft '73 movable in slots 74 provided in the frame 61, and nuts ?5 are threaded on the axle '73 for the purpose of fixing the axle within the slots 74. The pulley '71 is adjusted in position along with adjustment of the drum 6%, as is apparent.

An auxiliary table '76 may be provided forwardly of the table 24, and a belt 7'? supported by two pulleys 78 may be disposed about the table 76.

The machine may be driven by means of substantially the same mechanism as the first embodiment, including a variable speed drive device 34, sprockets 36 and 37, respectively connected with the device 34 and the drum l9, and a chain 35.

in operation, the sheet 44 is passed around the pulley 45 on to the left half of the drum 1t; betueen the belts 33a and 59. The drum lltl is driven at a slow speed initially, and the drum 69 rotates along with the drum due to the action of the belts 38a and 69 passing around both drums. The paper sheet travels along with the belts 38a and 69 around the drum 6G and back again around the left end of the drum it), and the drums It) and 60 are increased in speed in order to provide a substantial thickness of paper around the drums and between the belts, substantially as shown in FIG. 9. As in the first embodiment, the thickness of paper around the drums 10 and 69 may be on the order of 6 /2 to 7 inches, for example, before the paper winding operation is terminated.

At this time, the cutting device 13 is operated to move its guillotine blade 27 radially inwardly toward the platen 65 so as to cut through the loop of paper around the drums 10 and 6h lengthwise of the loop, parallel with the axes of the drums 1t and 69 and transversely of the paper web to in effect provide a series or slab of individual paper sheets around the drums. The drums 19 and 66 are then driven reversely slowly so that the paper sheets are moved on to the conveyer 12, and during such movement, the sheets are supported by the auxiliary table 76. When the leading edge of the sheet slab reaches the cutter device 14-, the device 14 may be operated to trim the end of the pile of sheets to make it square, and the device 14 may be operative also on the trailing edge of the pile of sheets on further movement of the conveyer 12.

It will be observed that the belts 38a and 69 help in passing the sheet initially from the drum it over the drum 6i and the belts 38a and 69 also help in subsequently removing the collection of sheets from the drums 1t) and 6% after they have been wound over the drums and cut by means of the cutter device 13. The belts hold the collection of sheets from falling between the drums 1t) and 6t and hold the trailing edge of the slab of sheets from relative sliding movement until the sheets have been laid as a pile on to the conveyer 12.

For adjusting the length of the pile or collection of sheets from the drums 19 and 60, the drum 6% may be adjustably positioned toward or away from the drum it As is apparent, the closer the drum 60 is moved toward the drum 1%), the shorter will be the length of the sheets after cutting by the cutter device 13. The belts 38a and 69 must, of course, be taken up when the drum 69 is moved toward the drum it The rolls 40 and 41 are adjustably positioned outwardly in the slots 67 for the purpose of taking up the belt 38a, and the roll '71 is adjusted outwardly in the slot 74 for taking up the belt 69.

Both of the above described embodiments of sheeters provide slabs or piles of paper sheets between which there is substantially no paper dust that can interfere with subsequent printing of the sheets, particularly by means of the so called offset printing process. Preferably, the sheet cleaning device 49 is provided in connection with the paper Web 44 prior to the winding of the web on either the drum it alone, as in the first embodiment, or on the two drums 1i and 6b as in the second embodiment; and there is substantially no dust or debris between the thickness of paper on the drums. The paper on the drums is severed as a slab, and there is subsequently no substantial movement and particularly no separation of the paper sheets of the slab with respect to each other as the sheets are unloaded from the drums, and paper dust cannot therefore enter between the sheets. Furthermore,

although the invention can conceivably be practiced using other than a guillotine type cutting device, such as a circular saw, nevertheless the guillotine device is a relatively clean cutter, producing little paper dust in comparison with rotary type cutters and is therefore preferred. The method of cutting piles or slabs of paper sheets as above described may be contrasted to prior methods in which rotary cutters are utilized cutting at the most 6 or 8 sheets at a time, allowing the paper dust to enter between the sheets as they are put on previous cut sheets in order to form a pile.

It will be noted that the piles of sheets made by the machines and methods of the invention are from a single roll of paper as contrasted with piles made with rotary cut-ting devices previously used in which as many rolls of paper were used as the number of sheets that were simultaneously cut by the rotary cutters. In paper manufacture, it is impossible to maintain exactly the same paper qualities of rolls of paper that are necessarily made at different times on the same paper making machine or on difierent paper making machines. The present invention assures that the paper sheets in a pile all come from the same original paper roll, so that the sheets are uniform with respect to printability and the sheets of a pile all print uniformly.

In view of the fact that the outer sheets of the paper slabs formed on the drums 1i) and 60 or 10 alone are at greater radii from the centers of the drums than are the innermost sheets, the outer sheets are necessarily of greater length than the inner sheets. This effect is minimized however by utilizing drums that have relatively large diameters, such as more than 12 inches and up to 8 feet or more, with the thickness of paper wound on the drums being 6 /2 to 7 inches, which is the usual limit of paper thickness useful in connection with guillotine type paper knives. The belts 33, 38a and 69 assure that as the paper slabs are being taken off the drums, there is substantially no movement of the paper sheets with respect to each other; and, although the edges of the slabs of sheets are not exactly at right angles to the slab due to the difference in length of the inner and outer sheets, neverthless the waste due to these obiiquely extending slab edges is not greater than occurs with the usual cylinder type cutters in which not more than 6 or 8 sheets are cut at a time and are piled on top of each other with consequent inaccuracies in locating the edges of the sheets with each other.

With the method and machines of the invention, the paper sheets may be out faster than with prior devices, in view of the fact that a thickness of from 6 /2 to 7 inches may be cut at a time, as contrasted with the simultaneous cutting of 6 or 8 sheets at a time by the rotating fly knives of prior sheet cutters which necessarily have a limited velocity. Incidentally, the drums 10 and 6% may be run at high speeds in winding the paper web on the drums. In view of the fact that there is such a large number of sheets cut simultaneously, the difiiculty of prior art devices in controlling the separate rapidly moving sheets of paper and bringing them to a stop without damage or disorder is avoided. Furthermore, the guillotine type action of the cutting devices 13 and 14, in addition to being relatively dust free, cause a minimum amount of crushing of the paper web at the point of cutting which may detract from and render the material unsuitable for its intended use or subsequent processing.

The paper may have its moisture changed as desired by the device 46; it may be inspected as by the device 47; and it may be split as by the splitting device 48 prior to winding. The paper sheet, once cleaned by the cleaning device 49 with the present invention, is not again subjected to dust or contamination, as is presently the case with conventional machines, and this factor is very important in producing paper designed for uses requiring cleanliness. Particularly in connection with the sec- 0nd embodiment of the invention, the paper may be produced to the exact sizes desired without subsequent processing, except possibly for trimming the ends of the paper slabs to square them.

The alternate paper web supply shown in FIG. 11 may be utilized with either embodiment of the invention when it is desired to wind a plurality of sheets simultaneously on either the winding drum 10 in the first embodiment, or on both drums 1t] and 60 in the second embodiment, for the purpose of increasing production speed.

7 The FIG. 11 paper supply includes a plurality of identical backstands 11a for paper rolls Zll. laper from each of the rolls 2]; passes through a moisture varying device 46, a paper inspection device 47, a pair of slitters 4-8, and a vacuum cleaning device 49, and each sheet is controlled by a side register control 51. The sheets from the rolls 21 pass under pulleys 45a, 45b, 45c and 45d as shown; and the sheets from all of the rolls pass under the pulley 45 to either the drum 18- in the first embodiment of the invention or to both the drum it and drum 60 in the second embodiment of the invention. The two embodiments of sheeter operate in the same manner as previously described for a single web, except that a plurality of webs or sheet thicknesses are simultaneously wound on the drums. Assuming the same drum speeds, the time for winding the required thickness of paper on to the drums prior to cutting is shortened, the time required being /2 if two rolls 231 are used, /3 for 3 rolls, M1 for 4 rolls, /5 for 5 rolls, etc.

For the purpose of maintaining as uniform as possible the quality of the paper wound on the drums, it is contemplated that the various rolls 21 used in the P16. 11 web supply shall preferably be segments of the long rolls manufactured by a paper machine which are taken from the same places across the length of the long rolls. For example, the rolls 21 could be the segments of a plurality of the long rolls manufactured by a paper machine which are taken from the same ends of the long rolls. It is quite usual that the quality of paper manufactured by a paper machine varies slightly in moisture content and thickness across the width of the web, and utilizing the same portions of the web in this manner for the various rolls 2], that are simultaneously used, assures that the quality of paper for the various rolls 21 shall be quite uniform.

The mode of operation just mentioned may be expected to cause the temporary accumulation of segments of the long rolls from the paper machine taken at other places across the lengths of the long rolls; however, the sheeters of the invention may be operated at such high speeds that such accumulations are not unduly extensive insofar as the time and space of storage required are concerned. In this connection, it is contemplated that the drum. ofthe sheeters may be operated at such speeds as to wind 4060 to 6000 feet per minute of paper web, so that even if only a single backstand and single roll 21 are used, nevertheless, the sheeters are effective for cutting sheet material at very high rates as compared to prior sheeters previously mentioned.

We Wish it to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions, arrangements, devices and methods hereinabove described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be understood to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is clahned is:

1. In a machine for forming a pile of sheets from webhing of sheet material, the combination of a pair of drums, means for rotatably mounting said drums on fixed spaced axes, an endless belt extending around said drums, means for rotating one or" said drums and thereby rotating the other drum and driving said belt so that th belt may carry the webbing for winding the webbing on the belt and drums in the form of a loop, a knife disposed to move through the loop of Webbing for severing the webbing as so wound transversely of the webbing to form a plu rality of sheets disposed about said drums, a table located adjacent and at a level below one of said drums for receiving the sheets from the drums and said belt as said drums are rotated to move the sheets on to the table, and a second endless belt disposed about the upper parts of said drums and about the corresponding part of said first named belt and about said sheets carried by said first named belt for holding the edges of said sheets which trail as they move on to said table so that the sheets move as a slab on to said table.

2. In a machine for forming a pile of sheets from a Web of sheet material, the combination of a pair of drums, means for rotatably mounting said drums on fixed spaced axes, an endless belt disposed about said drums, at backstand for a roll of sheet material disposed on one side of said drums, means for rotating a driving one of said drums in one direction for rotating said other drum and for driving said belt so that the belt may carry the web for Winding the web of sheet material on said drums and belt in the form of a loop, a knife disposed to move through the loop of web for severing the web as so Wound on said drums transversely of the web to form a plurality of sheets disposed about said drums, a table disposed beneath said belt and one of said drums and extending toward the other side of said drums, means for driving said driving drum in the other direction so as to unwind the sheets from said drums and belt and move them on to said table, a second endless belt extending around the upper parts of said drums and the corresponding part of said first named belt and about said sheets carried by said first named belt for holding the edges of said sheets which trail as they move on to said table so that the sheets move in the form of a slab on to said table, one of said drums being adjustably movable toward the other drum for changing the size of said sheets, and means mounting said belts to provide adjustable slack in them so that the belts may accommodate changes in spacing of said drums.

3. in a machine for forming a pile of sheets from webbiog of sheet material, the combination of a movable webbing support means having a circumference on which the webbing may be Wound as a multidhicltness loop with a substantia ly horizontal as the support means is moved, a knife movably mounted so that it may cut through said multi-thickness loop on the under side of said support means for severing the webbing transversely thereof to form a plurality of webbing sheets disposed about said support means, and an endless belt extending about a portion of the circumference of said support means and at least from above said axis on the top of said support means to a side of the support means at a level below said axis and providing a gap on the bottom of said support means uncovered by said belt, whereby the belt may be effective to hold the sheets on the support means as a slab as the sheets are unwound from the support means to position the sheets as a pile below the support means with movement of the support means.

4. In a machine for forming a pile of sheets from webbing of sheet material, the combination of a drum mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis and about which the webbing may be wound as a multi-thickness loop as the drum is rotated, a knife mounted beneath said drum and movable radially toward the drum for severing the multi-thicltness loop on the under side of said drum transversely of the webbing to form a plurality of sheets disposed about the drum, and an endless belt extending about a portion of the circumference of said drum and at least from the top of said drum above said axis to a side of the drum at a level below said axis and providing a gap on the bottom of said drum uncovered by said belt through which the knife may move, whereby the belt may be eiiective to hold the sheets on the drum as a slab as the sheets are unwound from the drum and move as a slab through said gap to position them beneath and to one side of said in the form of a pile with rotation of the drum.

5. In a machine for forming a pile of sheets from webbing of sheet material, the combination or a drum mounted for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis and about which the webbing may be wound as a multi-thickness loop as the drum is rotated, a knife mounted beneath said drum and movable radially toward the drum for severing the multi-thickness loop on the under sid of said drum transversely of the webbing to form a plurality of sheets disposed about the drum, a table disposed adjacent to and at a lower level than said drum, and a belt extending around a major portion of the circumference of said drum including the top half of the drum circumference and providing a gap on the bottom of the drum uncovered by the belt through which said knife may move, whereby the belt may be efiective to hold the sheets on the drum as a slab as the sheets are unwound from the drum and move as a slab through said gap to position them on said table in the form of a pile with rotation of the drum.

6. In a machine for forming a pile of sheets from webbing of sheet material, the combination of a pair of drums rotatably mounted on fixed, spaced, substantially horizontal axes; means for driving one of said drums and thereby winding the webbing about the drums in the form of a multi-thickness loop; a knife movably mounted so that it may cut through the lower stretch of said multithickness loop for severing the web transversely thereof to form a plurality of webbing sheets disposed about the drums; and an endless belt extending about the upper parts of said drums and providing a gap on the bottom stretch of said loop uncovered by said belt through which said knife may move; whereby the belt may be effective for holding the edges of the sheets which trail as they are unwound from the drums with rotation of said drums so that the sheets move as a slab through said gap to position them beneath said drums in the form of a pile.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,981 3/48 Fitch 83-649 538,464 4/95 Palmer et al 242-566 692,474 2/02 Pope 242-56 Rottinger 83-924 Ashelm 83-89 Pric 83-154 Nelson 242-56 Gammeter 83-346 Hoener 83-155 Kaddeland 83-90 Carroll 83-155 Leonard 83-338 Jansen et al 83-29 Stancliff 242-56 Pierson 242-56 Biggert 83-106 Lorch 83-29 Matthews 83-155 Stancliff et al 242-56 Staude 83-346 Conti 83-152 Huck 83-418 Bachman 242-63 Stobb 83-90 Bundegaard et al 83-924 France.

OTHER REFERENCES German publication, B16342 VII/55c, Oct. 6, 1955.

ANDREW R. IUHASZ, Primary Exan'ziner.

ARTHUR B. MlLLER, HUNTER C. BOURNE, 111.,

CARL W. TOMLIN, Examiners. 

3. IN A MACHINE FOR FORMING A PILE OF SHEETS FROM WEBBING OF SHEET MATERIAL, THE COMBINATION OF A MOVABLE WEBBING SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A CIRCUMFERENCE ON WHICH THE WEBBING MAY BE WOUND AS A MULTI-THICKNESS LOOP WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS AS THE SUPPORT MEANS IS MOVED, A KNIFE MOVABLY MOUNTED SO THAT IT MAY CUT THROUGH SAID MULTI-THICKNESS LOOP ON THE UNDER SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR SEVERING THE WEBBING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF TO FORM A PLURALITY OF WEBBING SHEETS DISPOSED ABOUT SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND AN ENDLESS BELT EXTENDING ABOUT A PORTION OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND AT LEAST FROM ABOVE SAID AXIS ON THE TOP OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO A SIDE OF THE SUPPORT MEANS AT A LEVEL BELOW 